Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA), every employer has a legal duty to provide whatever information, instruction, training, and supervision is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees.
The legal framework
The key legislation includes:
- HASAWA 1974 - The overarching duty to train employees
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - Requires risk assessments and training based on identified risks
- Various sector-specific regulations - COSHH, Manual Handling, DSE, Fire Safety Order, etc.
What "reasonably practicable" means
This is the standard that tribunals and the HSE apply. It means you must weigh the risk against the cost, time, and effort of reducing it. If the risk is significant and the cost of training is proportionate, training is required.
In practice, for most employers, basic health and safety training for all staff is always reasonably practicable.
Minimum training requirements
For all employees: - Fire safety and evacuation procedures - First aid awareness (where to find first aiders, first aid kits) - Accident and incident reporting - Manual handling basics (if they lift or carry anything) - DSE assessment (if they use screens) - Slips, trips, and falls prevention
For specific roles: - COSHH training for anyone handling chemicals - Working at height training - Lone working procedures - Vehicle safety for drivers
For managers: - Risk assessment methodology - Accident investigation - How to conduct workplace inspections
How to evidence compliance
When the HSE inspects, they will ask for evidence that:
- Training was provided - Dates, content, who attended
- Training was relevant - Based on your risk assessment
- Training was understood - Completion records, quiz results
- Training is current - Regular refreshers (typically annual)
- Training records are retained - Keep for the duration of employment plus a reasonable period
Common failures
The HSE's most common enforcement findings related to training:
- No documented risk assessment
- Training not refreshed after changes in work processes
- New starters not trained before starting work
- No record of who has been trained
- Training content not specific to the workplace